Blake Griffin Breaks His Silence After Chris Paul’s Midnight Clippers Exit — Dropping a Sharp, Thinly Veiled Message That Has NBA Fans Whispering About Old Wounds, Locker-Room Tension, and Whether the Most Explosive Duo in Lob City History Was Never Truly on the Same Page.
Blake Griffin didn’t hold back.
The former Clippers star voiced strong disappointment during Amazon’s NBA coverage on Friday while discussing Chris Paul’s abrupt and messy exit from the franchise.
Earlier this week, Paul was sent home by the organization after reportedly clashing with head coach Ty Lue and staff members.
The 40-year-old is in his 21st NBA season and had voiced his intention to retire following the 2025-26 campaign, and his return to the Clippers was noteworthy given that he’s more than likely the consensus best player in franchise history.
Griffin — another player who can make the claim — was a longtime teammate of Paul’s during the Clippers’ “Lob City” run from 2011-17.
“I’m just disappointed, to be honest. I can’t really think of another word,” Griffin said while on the Prime Video set with Udonis Haslem, Candace Parker and Taylor Rooks. “Obviously shocked at first, but disappointed. I’m disappointed for Chris Paul, but I’m disappointed in the Clippers organization.”
Griffin continued: “Chris Paul is a guy who came to the Clippers when DeAndre [Jordan] and I were first and second-year guys. He brought a winning culture. He taught us how to operate in the NBA and how to take every game seriously, how to take your body seriously, that there was no detail that was too small … Chris Paul, for 20 years, has been the same player. He’s been about winning.”
Chris Paul was sent home by the Clippers this week.
Griffin also noted that Paul should’ve been treated better in his “farewell tour,” by his estimation.
Paul signed a veteran minimum $3.6 million deal for this season, counting as $2.3 million to the Clippers’ cap due to NBA league rules, and isn’t eligible to be traded until Dec. 15.
“Re-signing with the Clippers, this was supposed to be his moment, his coming back to L.A. ‘I’m giving it one last go.’ And for him to not get to walk out on his own terms, from the franchise — that he chose to go to — to end his career, is extremely disappointing,” Griffin said.
Chris Paul (3) and Blake Griffin (32) during the 2016-17 season.
“But I think the biggest reason I’m disappointed is what Chris said. No communication with Ty Lue. And, even more than that, no communication — I talked to CP Wednesday, I talked to him yesterday, I talked to him today — no communication with [team governor] Steve Ballmer. And that’s the disappointing thing for me.”
Though the group never broke through to the conference finals, Paul’s tenure reshaped the franchise’s identity.
That’s why Griffin says the way it ended feels like a betrayal, both to Paul and to everything he meant to the team.
With Paul now weighing his next move, Griffin made clear where he stands.
The Clippers, who lost to the Grizzlies 107-98 tonight, are now 6-17 on the season.
